Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital Opens Korea's First 'Geriatric Surgery Support Center'

Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital announced on the 4th that it has opened the country's first 'Center for Older Adult Surgery Support (COGS)'.

Opening ceremony of the Geriatric Surgery Specialized Support Center at Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital. [Photo by Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital]

Older adult patients differ from general adults in various aspects such as the distribution of diseases, decline in organ function due to aging, high probability of comorbidities, cognitive function, and mental health disorders. In particular, surgery for older adult patients carries higher risks in terms of postoperative complications, mortality, and decreased quality of life.

Successful treatment of older adult patients requires not only surgery but also specialized management including preoperative evaluation and care, postoperative management, and rehabilitation. Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital explained that in response to this trend, it has opened the country's first Center for Older Adult Surgery Support and an 'Elderly-Friendly Ward'.

The Center for Older Adult Surgery Support professionally manages all processes from preoperative evaluation, rehabilitation, surgery, postoperative care, discharge, to post-discharge management for older adult patients. Professor Kim Sunhoe, a domestic authority on pancreatic cancer, was appointed as the inaugural center director.

In particular, through systematic multidisciplinary collaboration and a 'patient-centered joint clinical decision-making' process, the center provides an optimized treatment process for patients. The target patients are those aged 75 and older, and those aged 65 and older with comorbidities that increase surgical risk, referred by the attending surgeon.

Director Kim stated, "Our goal is to achieve pioneering advancement in geriatric medical care through the country's first Center for Older Adult Surgery Support."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.